• Comparisons

Nissan Altima vs Ford Fusion

By Autolist Editorial | October 10 2019

2019 Nissan Altima

2019 Ford Fusion

Our User's Take

What owners think


100%

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What’s better about the Altima?

Better safety features. All versions of the 2018 Altima come standard with active safety features like forward collision warning and pre-collision braking on both surface streets around town and the highway. These features are optional on the Fusion (though it’s worth noting that the Fusion makes lane departure warning and prevention an option whereas the Altima doesn’t even offer them).

Fuel economy. This generation of Nissan’s four-cylinder Altima has killer fuel economy, something none of the non-hybrid Ford models can touch. The four-cylinder Altima is rated at 27/38/31 MPG city/highway/combined. The best the non-hybrid Fusion can muster is 24/36/28.


What’s better about the Fusion?

More powertrain choices. The Ford Fusion offers a wide variety of engine and powertrain options. Plug-in hybrid? This Ford’s got one. Base four-cylinder gas engine? Yep. Turbocharged engines? The Fusion has two four-cylinder EcoBoost turbos to choose from, and one six-cylinder EcoBoost turbo, for a maximum of 325 horsepower. The Altima, meanwhile, has just a base (non-turbo) four-cylinder and an optional 270-horsepower V6.

All-wheel-drive. The Fusion is one of the few midsize family sedans to offer optional all-wheel-drive (most models come standard with front-wheel-drive). The Altima is front-whee-drive only. This matters to some owners in cold climates where traction is essential.

Better infotainment. The Fusion comes with Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, the latest in the automaker’s line of software. It’s considered to be faster and more modern than the aging system in the Altima.


Autolist’s take:

It’s worth noting that both of these sedans are at the end of their lifecycles; the Altima is all-new for 2019 while the Fusion will be around for another year before being discontinued in 2020. Rivals like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima are all more modern in 2018. But if you’re choosing between this Fusion and Altima, we like the Fusion more. Ford has done a better job of keeping it modern, it has a wide array of engine choices and the option of all-wheel-drive. So we say Buy the Ford.


Cost of Ownership

2019 Nissan Altima

2019 Ford Fusion

Annual Fuel Costs

$1,828
15k miles at $3.534/gal
$2,558
15k miles at $3.41/gal
Fuel Economy

25 mpg (miles per gallon)
City
17 mpg (miles per gallon)
City
34 mpg (miles per gallon)
Highway
26 mpg (miles per gallon)
Highway

Safety

2019 Nissan Altima

2019 Ford Fusion

NHTSA Crash Test Results

Overall
5 star
Overall
Safety Features

Standard
Autonomous Braking
Available
Autonomous Braking
Standard
Blind-Spot Warnings
Available
Blind-Spot Warnings
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control
Standard
Lane-Keep Assist
Available
Lane-Keep Assist
Standard
Cross-Traffic Alert
Available
Cross-Traffic Alert

Interior

2019 Nissan Altima

2019 Ford Fusion

Interior Features

Standard
Leather
Available
Leather
Standard
Moonroof
Available
Moonroof
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry
Available
Keyless Entry
Standard
Climate Control
Available
Climate Control
Technology

Standard
Apple Carplay
Available
Apple Carplay
Standard
Android Auto
Available
Android Auto
Standard
Satellite Radio
Available
Satellite Radio
Standard
Bluetooth
Standard
Bluetooth
Standard
Navigation System
Available
Navigation System

Under the Hood

2019 Nissan Altima

2019 Ford Fusion

Powertrain

Transmission
6-Speed Automatic
Transmission
FWD
Drivetrain
FWD
Drivetrain
Drivetrain

N/A
Horsepower
175+ HP @ 6000 RPM
Horsepower
N/A
Torque
175+ lb-ft @ 4500 RPM
Torque
N/A
Cylinders
I4
Cylinders